Suarez has 70m pound 'escape' clause in new Liverpool contract

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has a 70 million-pound escape clause in his new 200,000-pound-a-week contract with the club, under which he could stay in Anfield until 2018 just before Christmas.

However, Suarez's advisers made sure that the new agreement contained a watertight clause that will enable him to leave if Liverpool fails to qualify for the Champions League.

According to Metro.co.uk, Arsenal believed they had triggered an escape clause in the Uruguayan's previous contract when they offered 40,000,001 pounds for him in the summer but Liverpool said their understanding with Suarez was not contractual.

The club wanted to pitch the clause at 100 million pounds, but were told that figure was excessive, the report added.

Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters